Patna: Four days after being acquitted by the Patna High Court in connection with the killing of CPI-M leader Ajit Sarkar, former RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav was released from jail on Tuesday, police officials said.

"Yadav was released from the high security Beur Jail," a police official said. Yadav's wife and former MP Ranjita Ranjan and several RJD and Congress leaders gathered outside the jail at the time of his release.

Citing lack of evidence, the Patna High Court on Friday had set aside the February 2008 conviction of Yadav and two other accused, Rajan Tiwari and Anil Kumar Yadav, by a lower court.

Sarkar, a former CPI (M) legislator, was shot dead by unidentified persons in Purnia district on June 14, 1998.